Prestwich Heys preview
Straight back at it with a game under the HWRS lights on Tuesday night as we welcome near-neighbours Prestwich Heys.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Prestwich Heys
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 1st September 2026
KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions (over 67) – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult).
NOTE: We are a CASH ONLY stadium – there are NO CARD FACILITIES at the ground.
OVERVIEW:
For the Rams, it has been a struggle on the road with just one point from the last nine and leads being lost in two of them at FC Isle of Man and Atherton LR caused a few murmurs amongst the supporters, that was until Saturday’s emphatic 4-1 win over AFC Liverpool.
As for Prestwich Heys, following their opening day defeat at early pace setters Burscough, they have gone unbeaten since with FA Cup wins over Handsworth and Runcorn Town coupled with a league success over Glossop and draws with Barnoldswick and Abbey Hey.
It’s 10th v 11th in this game although Heys have only played four to the Rams’ five so this game is definitely important to both sides as they look to keep tabs on the play-off places and those up ahead. Only four sides are still unbeaten this season – including Barnoldswick’s remarkable four draws from four and six sides are still to win a game.
It really is too early to be pondering what ifs and maybes! Rob Henry and his management team are working hard to get things right on the pitch – not helped by a number of frustrating injuries to key players – so its time to get firmly behind the lads and gee them to victory.
FACILITIES
The game at Ramsbottom United will be by payment in CASH at the turnstile (the club does not have a card facility). Prices are as shown above and programmes are £2.
Due to adjacent building works, parking for spectators should be away from the ground, in either town centre car parks (drivers are advised to check any time limits) or in the various side streets, all of which are no more than 5-10 minutes walk away but please be mindful of local residents and businesses.
Please be aware that the access road to Ramsbottom Cricket Club and Ramsbottom United FC has now had a no parking policy imposed with immediate effect carrying a fine of £100. Please do not park on this road.
Various bus routes come into Ramsbottom town centre (https://bustimes.org/localities/ramsbottom for details) and the East Lancs Railway (https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/western-region-weekend/) station is adjacent to the ground.
Tea Bar serving hot and cold drinks, pie and peas, sweets, crisps etc will be open within the ground, as will the Can Bar serving beer, lager and cider.
HISTORY:
We welcome everyone who has made the journey up from north Manchester this evening and hope you have an enjoyable evening with us at the HWRS – obviously, result apart (to use Tony Cunningham’s well versed PA announcement!).
Our history goes way back to the Manchester League days of 1994/95 – the Rams beating Heys 3-2 in the Final of the Gilgryst Cup at the Riverside after extra time in May 1995.
We wouldn’t lock horns again until our return to the NWCFL Premier Division and Heys gave us a bloody nose with a 3-0 hammering at Adie Moran Park in September 2023 and backed it up with a 4-2 success at the HWRS five months later.
Since then though, the Rams have held sway, standing unbeaten in the last six meetings and scoring 18 goals in the process and conceding only four – the Rams completing back-to-back seasons’ doubles in the last two seasons with twin 3-0s last term and a 3-2 League Cup win as well and twin 2-1s the season before with a 5-0 League Cup win too.
What will happen this time around? Only time will tell but games between the Rams and Heys are always entertaining as the battle of north and south (Bury) continues.
